1 Good Sara Good Sandy Fimbres RWS 100 11:00 26 November 2007 Reality Television's Lack of Reality What bombards our television sets all day, everyday, that not only passes time, but also serves as a reality check to reassure us that our lives, family, and careers are not all as dysfunctional as they seem to be? The "reality" of television. However real this virtual escape may seem, the reality in reality shows is quite nonexistent. Stuart Fischoff, a credible psychologist with twenty five years of experience under his belt argues that reality television is more or less staged in his article, "Confessions of a TV Talk Show Shrink", published in a 1995 issue of Psychology Today, a magazine geared towards those associated with the field of psychology. Likewise, Debra Seagal provides proof in this assertion from her former work as a writer for such television shows in her article, "Tales from the Cutting-Room Floor", published in Harper's Magazine, a magazine targeted towards those who want to gain an influential insight on debatable topics in 1993. Neal Gabler, on the other hand, is able to contrast the views of reality television and compare them with the exploitation of people on the news in his essay, "Grieving for the Camera", published in 1996 in The Pittsburg Post-Gazette, a newspaper intended for an educated audience. By taking Gabler, Fischoff and Seagal's suggestions that the "reality" on television is not as real as it is made out to be and applying it to an episode of a well known show, one can easily see what they are talking about. Reality television is misleading because not only does it influence the way some guests act on, but it also
Good 2 serves as a temporary sense of fame and luxury one may not ever have the opportunity to get again. Adding to these already serious problems, reality television can mislead a guest with false promises of help, and rather, further worsen the problems once the guest leaves the stage and faces life in the real world again, creating a vicious cycle of guests that will keep the business of reality television alive. Guests of a talk show may think appearing on a talk show is a harmless way to seek temporary fame and tell their stories, but few realize how much television producers and set directors are able to pry out of them without even trying. As Stuart Fischoff points out, "Guests are given no warning that the electrified climate of the set will loosen their tongues and obliterate their self-protective sensibilities. That would spoil the fun" (Fischoff 69). Clearly, the creators and directors of talk shows aren't out to help people, but rather to set the stage to loosen their tongues and create a sense of chaos that will ultimately lead to high ratings. A production of VH1, "The Reality behind Reality TV" suggests that the most prized pieces of footage are those that include physical altercations or emotional breakdowns and that reality television isn't about keeping it real, it's about making the show interesting enough to hook viewers and reel them in on a daily basis. Seagal provides from experience working in the reality television business that "One woman's misery is another man's pleasure; one man's pleasure is another man's crime; one man's crime is another man's beat; one man's beat is another man's TV show" (Seagal 59). Reality television thrives on the humiliation of guests. Viewers crave action, controversy, and the exploitation of others not only for entertainment, but to feel a sense of superiority and reassurance that their lives are not as dysfunctional as they seem. The
Good 3 need to set the stage for chaos and to pry lies and secrets from the guests clearly is doesn't live up to the term "reality television". Reality television has not only come to benefit those who skew it to increase ratings, but it also benefits others with fewer opportunities in life. Guests are enticed by offers to meet the famous host, appear on national television for the world to see, and the chance to be pampered in five star hotels and first class plane rides. As Stuart Fischoff points out, "Most guests are drawn from America's abundant population of have nots" (Fischoff 69). "The Reality behind Reality TV" fuels the fiery statement with an interview with a director that adds the fact that the secret to reality television is finding people that are willing to do anything for the short lived, lavish fame that it can provide. With the perks and opportunities being on such a show provides, it is no wonder that nearly anyone and everyone looking to break into the television industry is scurrying to get on any type of reality show, whether it be on a talk show pouring their hearts out to the millions of viewers nation wide or a competition among women competing against each other for one man's heart. Though the guests and contestants on these shows seem credible in their motives for appearing on them, in actual reality they are only there for fame, recognition, and a shot at the luxurious life as a celebrity. For the few guests that do go on national television to get answers to their problems, television does but nothing manipulate and leave them associated with the stigma of their problem after they leave the stage and try to pursue a normal life. As Fischoff suggests, "Talk shows exist to entertain and exploit the exhibitionism of the walking wounded" (67). Those behind reality television strive to take advantage of those inflicted with life problems, and rather than attempt to help them, they use the guest's
Good 4 problems to their advantage. One must be well aware that beaming lights, cameras circling the room, and hundreds of gazing eyes does not compare to the calm, relaxed environment of a psychologist's office. The time allotted in one episode of a television show certainly is not enough time to create a compendium of psychological treatment . Producers falsely advertise help and advice with a problem in pursuit of satisfying, as Gabler would put it, a "society starved for new drama" (72). The diction used by Neal Gabler in his essay, "Grieving for the Camera" helps him cast a dark, shadowy light on reality television. Throughout his piece he alludes to specific, well known tragedies, each that evoke emotion. He describes relatives as "teary", mourners "benumbed", and the exploitation of the media today as "ghoulish". Gabler uses such somber verbs throughout the piece to call attention to how low reality television has gone. Society can no longer respect the privacy of mourning, and because we've seen nearly every problem one can imagine presented on television, we've become bored and gone to the ultimate low of changing the norms of mourning for our own entertainment. As if his twenty five years of experience wasn't enough, Stuart Fischoff uses his own plausible experience on talk shows as a way of conveying his point that reality does not exist to assist the guests in getting professional help for their problems, but Fischoff points out that from his experience, guests cannot fully get treatment or help dealing with their problems because not only is the time allotment to discuss a problem small, but talk show hosts can steer the conversations in different directions to keep the audience entertained, rather than to specifically address the root of the problem, which is exactly what appeals to the interest of the common viewer and brings them back for more.
Good 5 Debra Seagal, a former story analyst uses chronology to illustrate how truly problematic reality television can be. Her behind the scenes secrets that describe the process of creating such a show are enough to convince even the most avid viewer that the reality in reality television is not at all that real. She is able to simulate seeing the list of what exactly they're looking for to compete with other television shows and its quest for originality, the initial taping of it, the steps taken to cut out footage (because of its lack of sexiness) and add noises to the real footage to make it interesting. Only after the original content is altered to where it contains only a modicum of truth is the show aired to national television, where its only purpose is to entertain the plethora of society who craves drama, action, and downright dangerous situations. Sally Jesse Raphael, the host of the popular talk show, "The Sally Show", ties the concepts discussed by Gabler, Fischoff, and Seagal together in an interview with young troublemaking teens that steal, lie, cheat, and vandalize property. With a psychologist on hand, the show seems credible and professional, however if one watches the episode in its entirety, they will see Sally direct the flow of conversation away from methods of harboring the thoughts these teens have and closer in the direction of what and why they relentlessly harm people and their property. In doing so, the teens are seen as disrespectful and undeserving individuals throughout the nation, creating a reputation for their future that could possibly be with them throughout their life. The abnormal flow of conversation does nothing to help the teens overcome their troublemaking habits, but seems to fire them up and motivate them to continue on with their troubling ways because they derive attention and fame from it, something those with troubling problems seem to crave.
Good 6 Reality television may claim to depict the essence of real life. It may attempt to solve the problems people deal with on a daily basis and show footage of everyday occurrences, such as bank robberies that result in a shooting war between cops and the robber. But however reality television is portrayed on the screen, one can almost always safely assume the "reality" on the show isn't that authentic in real life, for if it was, reality television may cease to exist at all.
Good 7 Works Cited Fischoff, Stuart. "Confessions of a TV Talk Show Shrink." Fimbres 63-68 Gabler, Neal. "Grieving for the Camera." Fimbres 71-72 Seagal, Debra. "Tales from the Cutting - Room Floor: The Reality of RealityBased Television." Fimbres 53-60 "Reality TV Secrets Revealed." The Reality Behind Reality TV. VH1 "Teen Secrets Caught on Tape." The Sally Show. Sally Jesse Raphael. NBC, 14 Nov. 2007